NBA playoffs underway

[CanadianSteve]

I haven't posted basketball here in a long time. The Toronto Raptors had a depressing season, missed the playoffs, and released coach Lenny Wilkens after the last game.

Today the Phoenix Suns upset San Antonio in overtime, on a 3 point shot by Stephon Marbury at the buzzer.

I don't know if the NBA playoffs are shown down under, but there should be some great series coming up.

 

[imported_weasel]

Some of the games are shown on ESPN here in Aus. I watched that Phoenix- Spurs game this morning and thought that was the funniest ending to a game I have ever seen. I don't much like Tim Duncan and the look on his face when Marbury's shot sunk was absolutely priceless. It would be great if the Suns could upset the Spurs althoughit may be beyond them this year, they have superb talent though and will be much better next season. I'm hoping the Kings win the championship.

 

[CanadianSteve]

The Spurs beat the Lakers in Game 1 of their 2nd round series. A 26 year old rookie named Ginobili, an Argentinian who's been a star in the Italian pro league, played a great game. He's giving the Spurs a spark they lacked last year.

More and more NBA teams have really talented European players this year.

 

[CanadianSteve]

The Lakers are now trailing in the series with the Spurs, 3 games to 2.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson went into hospital with chest pains, and ended up having angioplasty, where a device called a "stent" is inserted into an artery to open up a blockage. He missed the 4th game of the series, which they won, but was back on the bench for game 5 in San Antonio, with a doctor there to monitor his condition.

I don't know how he could come back so quickly. When I had an angiogram in November and it was determined my arteries were clear and didn't need an angioplasty, I was still off work for 5 weeks. I also coach high school basketball, which is a bit less stressful than the NBA. It surprises me Jackson could come back so quickly, and I hope it's not risky for him.